Page 32 of Stranger Gifts

“Well, yes but you all know how I feel about killing the animals,” she frowned.

“Mama, we all eat chicken, beef, seafood, all of it. Where do you think we get it?”

“The market, like everyone else,” she said with a sharp tone. “I won’t grow animals for us to eat. That ain’t what we’re gonna do here.” The men laughed and Ivy smiled at the older woman.

“Okay, Mama. But what are the rest of them doing with you? What are you making them do?”

“She’s not making us do anything,” laughed Nat. “I’ve been carefully burning parts of the property to clear for gardens and Nash makes sure that the fire is extinguished, while Hawke ensures nothing jumps.”

“It sounds, um, efficient,” smirked Ian.

“I promise, it’s all good,” smiled Ivy. She looked down at Ian’s feet and smiled. “In fact, let me show you.”

She knelt beside Ian, holding his ankle with one hand and placing her other on the ground. Ian felt the earth moving and stared down at his foot. After a few moments of shaking his leg lifted, beneath it, a small tree already growing.

“What the hell?” he gasped.

“I think we’ll call this one Ian’s apple tree,” smiled Ivy. Irene laughed, nodding them.

“I think that’s a great idea. In fact we might be able to come with a whole new species of trees and plants that are just ours. If they work out, we’ll introduce them to the world. Let’s go children. We got lots to do!”

They all laughed, following the elderly commander as if she were their personal general. Gaspar just shook his head.

“What do you think?” asked Nine.

“I think I can’t argue about plants, trees, and food. It kind of pisses me off.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

“We found them,” said Sly walking toward the seniors. “Right now, they’re at a campground outside of Abilene, Texas. About a hundred guys all on bikes with tents.”

“A hundred men,” nodded Nine. “We could just take them out.”

“We could,” said Gaspar. “That could bring a lot of eyes our way. They’re doing what they were ordered. Besides, wouldn’t it be more fun to fuck with them?”

“I’m listening.”

“This doesn’t feel smart,” said one of the men whispering to another. “I know he loved that kid, but he was a fucking loose cannon and shouldn’t have touched a damn nun.”

“I agree but what do we do? The others have all left. This is the life I’ve come to know. If I walk away from this club I become a nomad or I join another club that’s going to make me start all over again. I’m too old for this shit.”

“Yeah, but you heard the rumors. These guys shouldn’t be fucked around with. I’m just not keen on this idea.”

“What do we do?” asked a third man.

“I don’t know. That’s the problem. I don’t know what we do.”

The massive bonfire was the center of their camping area. It was against campground regulations, considering the dry brush in the area, but they didn’t pay much attention to rules and the campground was smart enough to not test them.

As usual, they drank too much, ate too much, and wanted women. Unfortunately, they never traveled with their women. That is, if they had a steady woman.

There were always clubhouse bitches that were there to cook, clean, and satisfy their urges. But a few of the men had old ladies. Some married. Some not.

Hearing a disturbance a few rows over, the men stood to see what was going on. They could hear yelling and screaming and wanted to see what was happening. If it was a fight, they could damn sure expel some energy and if there was a woman involved, all the better. They’d have a little fun.

With their backs turned, the team moved in.

With Flip by her side, Nat raised her hands, sparks and flames rising from her fingertips. Focusing on the tents, she set each on fire, then focused on the bikes.

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